Tags: China, Military Satellite, Apstar-7
Publication: Wired.com
Publication Date: 05/21/2013

The Chinese Apstar-7 has 28 C-band transponders and 28 Ku-band transponders. It covers Asia, Australia, Middle East, Eastern Africa and Eastern Europe. Under a current deal being blocked by the U.S. House, the U.S. Department of State would use the satellite for encrypted military communications. Image credit: Apstar

The U.S. House has decided to block any future contracts with China, affecting the recently signed Department of Defense agreement with a Chinese satellite company. The House also blocked any possibility of contracts with North Korea in its revision of next year’s defense budget bill.

While there are still many legislative steps to take before the prohibition becomes law, the move comes just days after the Pentagon agreed to renew a $10.7 million annual lease of China’s Apstar-7 communications satellite, which is supposed to carry data for American forces operating in Africa.

While the DoD claims the deal doesn’t pose any security risks, citing confidence in their encryption system, Congressmen are not willing to leave military data in Beijing’s hands, in fear that China could just shut down access to the satellite altogether or gain important intelligence on the U.S. encryption system.

Under the provision, however, the Defense Secretary would be able to waive the prohibition for certain deals only if the Director of National Intelligence submits an unclassified report justifying the waiver, which would seem to be unlikely.

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